Final update: the Diamondbacks were eliminated. The Phillies beat Tampa Bay 7 to 3 on Sunday to clinch the last National League wild card, so Arizona’s season ended at 86 and 76. Philadelphia plays at Atlanta in the Phillies vs. Braves Wild Card Series starting Tuesday. The original scenarios are below.
The Arizona Diamondbacks make the playoffs on Sunday, September 27, only if two things happen: they beat the Padres in San Diego, and the Phillies lose to the Rays in Philadelphia. That would leave both teams at 87 and 75, and Arizona holds the tiebreaker. Any other result sends the Phillies to the postseason and ends the Diamondbacks’ season.
Live Scores
Diamondbacks at Padres
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Rays at Phillies
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Every Scenario
| Diamondbacks | Phillies | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Win | Lose | Diamondbacks clinch on the tiebreaker |
| Win | Win | Phillies clinch |
| Lose | Lose | Phillies clinch |
| Lose | Win | Phillies clinch |
Game Times
The Rays and Phillies start first, at 2:30 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park. MLB moved that game up from 3:05 p.m. because of rain in the forecast. The Diamondbacks and Padres start at 3:10 p.m. ET, which is 12:10 p.m. in Arizona, at Petco Park, with Walker Buehler starting for San Diego. Because Philadelphia starts earlier, the Diamondbacks may know the Phillies’ result before their own game ends, unless weather delays the game in Philadelphia.
Why Arizona Holds the Tiebreaker
MLB no longer plays tiebreaker games, so a tie in the standings is settled on paper. The first criterion is the head to head record, and the Diamondbacks and Phillies split their six games 3 to 3. Arizona wins the next tiebreaker criterion, so a tie at 87 and 75 goes to the Diamondbacks.
How They Got Here
Arizona was well behind in the race a week ago, then swept the Rockies and won 11 to 4 in San Diego on Friday while Philadelphia lost, cutting the gap to one game. On Saturday the Padres beat the Diamondbacks 10 to 7 to clinch the NL’s No. 4 seed, and the Rays beat the Phillies 12 to 1, leaving the margin at one game with one to play.
What Happens Next
Whichever team gets in is the National League’s No. 6 seed and plays at the No. 3 Atlanta Braves in a best of three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday, September 29, with every game at Truist Park. The winner faces the No. 2 Dodgers in the Division Series. For Arizona, that would mean a playoff meeting with its NL West rival, a rematch of the 2023 Division Series the Diamondbacks swept on their way to the World Series.
More on the MLB Playoffs
Diamondbacks magic number · MLB clinch scenarios · MLB playoff picture · How the MLB playoffs work
Official tiebreaker rules and the full bracket are on MLB.com.